Apparatus for producing coke and gas



Jan. 23, 1934. w. A. RIDDELLA APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING COKE AND GAS Filed Dec. 26, 1930 Patented Jan. 23, 1934 UNITED STATES APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING COKE AND GAS William A. Riddell,

Frederick, Md., assignor to The Frederick Iron & Steel Company, Frederick, Md., a corporation of Maryland Application December 26, 1930 Serial No. 504,945

6 Claims.

My invention relates broadly to an apparatus for manufacturing coke and gas.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a simplified method of manufacturing coke 1and producer gas wherein coal is automatically fed at a predetermined rate to a degasification chamber and subjected to a distillation process over a predetermined time period and then discharged to a quenching tank from which the coke ';is withdrawn.

Another object of my invention is to provide a construction of coke apparatus having means for subjecting coal during a progressive feeding operation to heat for distilling gases from the "focal and discharging the gases thus generated to a produced gas system while discharging the coke at high temperature to a quenching tank from which it is withdrawn.

Still another object of my invention is to "provide a system of manufacturing coke and producer gas wherein coal is progressively supplied to a degasification chamber to drive off the gases from the coal and forming coke which is discharged at high temperature into a quenching tank, and wherein a portion of the gases derived from the degasification process is utilized after starting for the continued heating of the coal during a continuous distillation process.

v A further object of my invention is to provide ';a construction of apparatus including a coal feeding hopper and screw mechanism operative with respect thereto for progressively supplying coal to a tubular heating chamber where the coal is subjected to degasification and discharged to a quenching tank while gases generated during the distillation process are conveyed partially to a produced gas system and partially to a heating chamber concentric with the tubular heating chamber of the coking apparatus for the continued distillation of gases from the coal.

Other and further objects of my invention reside in the system for generating produced gas and manufacturing coke as set forth more fully in the following specification reference being had to the accompanying drawing in which the single figure is a sectional elevation taken centrally through a preferred form of apparatus which may be employed in carrying out the principles of my invention.

Referring to the drawing in detail, reference character 1 designates a hopper for receiving the coal which is supplied to the coking and producer gas system. The hopper 1 is mounted upon the frame 2 which also provides mounting means for the driving motor 3 and the reduction gear 4. The screw conveyor 5 extends beneath the hopper 1 and through the coal receiving throat, terminating in the coal feeding tube 6 as shown. The conveyor 5 has a hollow shaft 5a through which air is admitted under pressure through pipe line 7. A portion of the coal feeding tube 6 is perforated at 8 and surrounded by an annular chamber 9 through which steam is admitted through pipe line 10. The supply of air through pipe line '7 is controlled by valve ?a and similarly the supply of steam through pipe line 10 is controlled by valve 10a. The coal is subjected to steam through the apertures 8 preparatory to the entrance of the coal into the degasification chamber which I have designated at 11. The degasification chamber 11 is an extension of the coal feeding tube 6 and is perforated as indicated at 12 for permitting gases to seep therethrough into the space defined by the tubular, concentric envelope indicated at 13. The envelope 13 is concentrically surrounded by the casing 14 having a closed head 15 supported from the coal feeding tube 6 as indicated at 16. The casing 14 provides a combustion chamber around the degasification chamber and is provided with a refractory lining 17 with refractory end portions 17a and 1% as shown for confining the heat directly against the tubular envelope 13 and adjacent the degasification chamber 11 Gases which are distilled off from the coal in the degasification chamber 11 pass through the screen 18 and into the gas accumulator 19. The coalsupplied to the degasification chamber 11 is subjected to heat treatment while the coal is progressively fed toward the mouth of the degasification chamber 11. The mouth of the degasification chamber 11 is provided with a restrictive orifice 20 which tends to retard the movement of the coal through the degasification chamber 11 whereby distillation of the coal is completed and coke is formed which is discharged into the tube 21 through which the glowing particles of coke drop to the quenching tank 22 into which the lower end of tube 21 is submerged as shown at 23. The coke gravitates to the apex 24 of the quenching tank into which the screw conveyor 25 extends, the same being driven from bevel gear 26 for elevating the coke to the discharge spout for ultimate delivery into the cars 28. The bevel gear 26 is driven from bevel gear 29 carried by shaft 30 which is driven through bevel gearingv 31 from shaft 32 which is in turn driven from the reduction gearing 4 as shown. The gas accumulator 19 is control of valve 47.

provided with an outlet 33 leading to suitable producer gas storage tanks or points of utilization (not shown).

A safety valve 34 is provided in the accumulator 19 to prevent the establishment of injurious pressures which may be created during the quenching process by reason of the descending glowing coke striking the water of the quenching tank 22 and thereby generating steam. A portion of the gas thus produced is supplied through filter screen 35 through pipe line 36 and through valve 37 and valve 38 to the multiple jet burner 39 in the combustion chamber 14, as shown.

In order to support combustion, air is supplied through pipe line 40 in required amounts under control of valve 41 to the multiple jet 39. An igniter in the form of a spark plug is provided at 42 adjacent the multiple jet 39. The arrangement described is utilized for maintaining the multiple jet in operation after the gas accumulator has been started. In order to start the system, valve 37 is initially closed and gas supplied from pipe line 43 through valve 44 to the multiple jet 39. After the generation of gas starts the valve 44 is closed and valve 3'? opened for maintaining a continuous heating cycle by consuming a part of the gas which is generated in the distillation of the coal. The refractory lining 17 serves to concentrate the combustion immediately around the tubular envelope 13, thus subjecting the coal in tube 11 to conditions of high temperature. The exhaust products are discharged through pipe line 50 arranged to exhaust the burned gases from the combustion chamber 14. I provide means for clearing out any accumulation which may occur between tubes 11 and 13 as shown by the annular ring member 45 connected through pipe line 46 under The annular ring 45 is perforated around one side thereof as shown at 48, thereby enabling jets of air to be projected longitudinally along the concentric tubes 11 and 13 for blowing out any accumulation or incrustations, due to formation of coal tar.

It will be observed that motor 3 simultaneously drives the conveyors 5 and 25. It is important to note that gaseous products generated within the tube 6 prior to the positioning of the coal within the area of the distilling chamber may develop a tendency to back up and escape by way of the feed hopper. It will moreover be observed that this contingency can be readily overcome by injecting air through the hollow shaft of the coal conveyor, thus driving such gases towards the foraminatio-ns within the distilling chamber. The restriction orifice 20 for the tube 11 is shaped to providethat degree of retarding necessary to subject the coal to the required heat treatment for effecting the distillation from the coke. The screens 18 and 35 prevent the back firing of the gases accumulated in the storage chamber 19 thus avoiding injury to parts of the system. The amounts of air, gas

\ and steam are selectively controllable by the adjustment of valves 7a, 1001, 41 and 38. The valves are adjusted to secure the greatest operating efficiency and this may be changed from time to time to meet varying conditions as they arise.

While I have described the apparatus of my invention and the process of manufacturing coke and producer gas therewith in one of its preferred embodiments, I desire that it be understood that modifications may be made and that no limitations upon my invention are intended other than are imposed by the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is as follows:

1. An apparatus for manufacturing gas and coke which comprises a gas accumulator, a quenching tank at the base of said gas accumulator, a coal hopper, a coal feeding and distilling tube communicatively connecting said coal hopper with said gas accumulator, a screw conveyor in said coal feeding tube for advancing coal from said coal hopper through said tube toward said gas accumulator, a discharge spout connected with the end of said coal feeding tube and projecting into the quenching tank of said gas accumulator, means surrounding said tube for collecting gases distilled from the coal therein, and a combustion chamber surrounding said means for subjecting said coal to heat for driving off gases from the coal.

2. Apparatus for manufacturing coke and gas comprising a coal hopper, a gas accumulator, a coal feeding and distilling tube communicatively connecting said coal hopper with said gas accu' mulator, a screw conveyor in said tube for advancing coal from said coal hopper through said tube toward said gas accumulator, means for introducing air and steam into said coal feeding tube and establishing a draft through said tube in the direction of said gas accumulator, a gas collecting envelope surrounding said tube, a combustion chamber surrounding said gas collecting envelope for maintaining the coal in said tube at a distillation temperature during the progressive movement of the coal through the tube, and a discharge spout for conducting away the coke derived from the coal at the end of the progressive feed of the coal through said tube.

3. An apparatus for manufacturing coke and gas comprising a coal hopper, a gas accumulator, a coal feeding and distilling tube communicative- 1y connecting said coal hopper with said gas accumulator, a conveyor for advancing coal from said coal hopper through said coal feeding tube, a discharge spout connected with the discharge end of said coal feeding tube and terminating in a quenching tank within said gas accumulator, a gas collecting tube'concentrically surrounding a portion of said coal feeding tube, a combustion chamber, said combustion chamber being concentrically disposed about said gas collecting tube, heating means disposed within said combustion chamber, and a gas conduit connecting the gas accumulator and heating means.

4. An apparatus for manufacturing coke and gas comprising a coal hopper, a gas accumulator, a coal feeding and distilling tube communicatively connecting said coal hopper with said gas accumulator, a conveyor operative in said tube for advancing coal from said coal hopper toward said gas accumulator, means for introducing air under pressure axially of said tube, the side walls of a portion of said tube being perforated for the passage of gas therethrough, a gas collecting envelope concentrically disposed about the perforated portion of said tube, a combustion chamber enclosing said gas envelope, a restricted discharge member forming an orifice between said gas collecting envelope and said gas accumulator for discharging gas into said gas accumulator, and a gas burner disposed in said combustion chamber and supplied with gas from a portion of the gas discharged to said gas accumulator.

5. An apparatus for manufacturing coke and gas comprising a coal hopper, a gas accumulator,

a coal feeding and distilling tube communicatively connecting said coal hopper with said gas accumulator, a screw conveyor for advancing coal from said coal hopper through said coal feeding tube, a pair of cylinders, one surrounding the other and the inner cylinder surrounding a portion of said coal feeding tube, the cylinder immediately surrounding said coal feeding tube providing a gas collecting envelope and discharging into said gas accumulator, the cylinder surrounding said last mentioned cylinder constituting a combustion chamber, and means for utilizing a portion of the gas in said gas accumulator for supporting combustion within said combustion chamber.

6. Apparatus for manufacturing coke and gas comprising a coal hopper, a gas accumulator, a coal feeding and distilling tube communicatively connecting said coal hopper with said gas accumulator, a conveyor for advancing coal from said coal hopper through said coal feeding tube toward said gas accumulator, a pair of cylinders, one enclosing the other and. the inner cylinder enclosing said coal feeding tube, the cylinder immediately adjacent said coal feeding tube forming a gas collecting envelope and discharging into said gas accumulator, and the cylinder surrounding said last mentioned cylinder constituting a combustion chamber for maintaining the coal in said tube at distillation temperature, and. saidcoal feeding tube having a restricted discharge member forming an orifice for retarding the movement of the coal through said tube while subjecting the coal to the temperature of said combustion chamber.

WILLIAM A. RIDDELL. 

